Appeal 6003472

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for a ground floor rear extension and loft conversion with rear dormer and 3 skylights at the front at [site address] , [name], London [postcode] in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref 25/01890/HH, subject to the following conditions:

The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than 3 years from the date of this decision.

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: E000, P000 and P001.

The main issue is the effect of the single storey rear extension upon the character and appearance of the area.

The appeal site comprises a link-semi-detached house with its rear elevation stepped back from [address] adjoining, the gardens for which are at a slightly lower level than [address] to the rear. The extension would be built up against the exposed flank elevation of no7 at the same depth (2.2m) and by virtue of its limited depth and its flat roof single storey form would appear subordinate to the host dwelling, indeed far more so than the proposed dormer roof extension which the Council takes no issue with.

The proposed extension would largely be screened by the existing close-boarded fence which runs along the rear boundary, itself set away from the public footway of [address], by a soft landscape strip and the roof of an outbuilding structure that is located within the garden of [address].

Admittedly, the extension would reduce the amount of usable outdoor amenity space to serve that property, although bearing in mind the close proximity to the Beckton District Park on the opposite side of [address] which can be used for outdoor recreation, I consider, on balance, that the existing and future living conditions of the occupants of the host property would not be harmed by the proposal.

I consider the scale and massing of the ground floor extension would respect the proportions of the host dwelling and would not deviate from the wider neighbourhood development project which was designed in the early 1980s. All in all consider that the extension would not be overly prominent within the [address] street scene and so the character and appearance of the area would be protected. I therefore find that the scheme complies with the National Planning Policy Framework, The London Plan and Policies SP1, SP3 and SP8 of the Newham Local Plan 2018 which together require high quality development whilst seeking to reinforce or create local positive distinctiveness. The Council has not explained how the proposal conflicts with the Altering and [name] and in any case I consider the scheme to be acceptable in terms of its design.

For the reasons set out above and having regard to all other matters raised, I conclude that the appeal should succeed.

In addition to the standard time limit condition, I consider that it is appropriate to require the development to be carried out in accordance with the submitted plans, in the interests of protecting the character and appearance of the area.